WWE Conference Call: Vince McMahon discusses the first quarter financial report

Vince McMahon and members of senior management served as the hosts of a conference call pertaining to the 2016 first quarter financial report that was released on May 10, 2016. The following are the highlights of the call. Refresh the page for the latest updates.

-The call is hosted by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, WWE Chief Strategy and Financial Officer George Barrios, and WWE Investor Relations Michael Weitz.

-It was emphasized that WrestleMania occurred in the second quarter this year compared to last year.

-Vince said the earnings revenue was “pretty good.” He praised the WWE Network number through WrestleMania and the “brand equity of WrestleMania” while noting that they broke their attendance record. Vince said the majority of the tickets were sold when they put them on sale.

-Vince spoke about new network content. He said Camp WWE is doing “extremely well” on the VOD side. He also touted the Holy Foley show and Total Bellas. Vince also boasted of their success on social media and once again labeled it the strength of the brand.

-Vince said they were able to make “chicken salad” out of the injuries they suffered heading into WrestleMania. He mentioned Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, and John Cena among the returning stars. He said they have introduced 13 new talents and said it speaks to the strength of the NXT brand.

More?

WWE Reports Strong First-Quarter 2016 Results

WWE Extends Triple H's Talent Contract

New WWE paperwork filed with the SEC reveals that Triple H extended his booking contract on May 9th. This indicates that he is planning on being "talent" through WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Triple H's previous performer's deal expired at the end of March and this new deal will automatically renew unless they terminate it for any reason.

Triple H Talks About Sheamus and Becky Lynch, Their Work Ethic

Triple H spoke with 98 FM in Dublin, Ireland last week to promote the upcoming WWE NXT UK tour. He commented on what got Sheamus and Becky Lynch to where they are:

"Well because they both have an amazing work ethic. I've known Sheamus for a long time, he's amazingly dedicated, just trains hard and is a sponge for the business. He wants to learn and constantly grow. Becky is the same thing. Becky, from the time I met her and we brought her into the Performance Center, through her time at NXT. Her rate of change and how she's grown as a performer and a character, just captivated the crowd [with] her energy. I always say Becky's energy is infectious. You can't talk to her more than 5 minutes without feeling hyped up and jazzed up. I think that's what works for her, is her personality. But the thing that helps both of them, and I don't know if that's Dublin work ethic or what that is, they're just very hard workers and that's what it takes to get to the top of the game in WWE."

Backstage News on EC3 Shooting on WWE at EVOLVE 61

As we noted over the weekend, TNA star EC3 made a surprise appearance at EVOLVE 61 in Queens and cut a promo after the main event, during which he and TNA Champion Drew Galloway took shots at NXT and Triple H.

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, the promo was not meant to be a WWE vs. TNA angle, but was meant to have an anti-WWE feel. However, it’s being said if WWE had a problem with it, it never would’ve happened. It was speculated that EVOLVE isn’t doing anything that WWE wouldn’t sign off on right now.

Andre The Giant Biopic In The Works

Lion Forge Comics and producers Scott Steindorff and Dylan Russell have partnered to develop a feature film about the life of iconic pro wrestler Andre “The Giant” Roussimoff.

The project is based on the authorized graphic novel biography published last year, “Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven.” Roussimoff’s daughter Robin Christensen-Roussimoff will consult on the film and assigned the exclusive rights for the biography to the producers.

“Andre the Giant rode the wave of the rise of wrestling in America, while suffering from the painful health condition of gigantism – there’s an Elephant Man story here,” Steindorff said.

In addition to his wrestling career, Roussimoff played a key role in Rob Reiner’s 1987 fantasy comedy “The Princess Bride” as Fezzik, part of a trio of bandits with characters played by Wallace Shawn and Mandy Patinkin. He began wrestling professionally at the age of 17 and was billed as being 7-feet-4 and over 500 pounds hailing from “Grenoble in the French Alps.”

“As a lifelong wrestling fan, I can say with conviction that no one was bigger than Andre,” said Lion Forge CEO David Steward II. “His presence and charisma were so powerful, and you could tell there was much more to him under the surface of his ring persona. It’s been an amazing experience telling that story in the book with Robin’s help. With all the spectacle, action, and emotion there on the page, a feature film just made perfect sense.”

“Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven” was written by Brandon Easton and illustrated by Denis Medri. The biography, which was nominated for the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity and three Glyph Awards, recounts the wrestler’s life from his earliest days working on the family farm in France along with the rise of professional wrestling itself through the World Wrestling Federation, due in large part to Andre the Giant’s celebrity.

Steward and Lion Forge’s Carl Reed will produce with Steindorff and Russell of Stone Village Productions, with Joel Falderon as a co-producer and Barry Alexander as an associate producer. Jimmy Thomas will executive produce with Peter Fruchtman.

“I’m really excited to watch this story come to life on the big screen,” Robin Christensen-Roussimoff said. “It’s been a labor of love for everyone involved, and we’re really looking forward to making it available to a larger audience.”

source: variety.com

Top TNA Star Makes Surprise Appearance at EVOLVE 61, Shoots on WWE and NXT, Takes Shots at Triple H, Bill DeMott and More

Top TNA star Ethan Carter III rushed the ring at tonight’s Evolve 61 IPPV event and, along with Drew Galloway, attacked Johnny Gargano ending the show’s main event. EC3 then cut a scathing promo on NXT, Triple H, independent wrestlers and more.

Featured below is a full transcript of the promo, edited for clarity.

“[Galloway] became a world champion on his own. I became a world champion on my own. So the way I look at it, you know who kinda blew it? The 203. Stamford, CT. Up north. The ‘King of Kings’, that’s who blew it.”

EC3 and Galloway then fight off multiple referees and wrestlers trying to interfere, as EC3 continues his shoot, now addressing the talent that tried to chase him off.

“No, no, I get it. I get it guys, you wanna make the next step. You want to be good soldiers. But take it from us – you know what they do to good soldiers? They put them on the front line and make them take the bullet.”

EC3 then emulates urinating on the Evolve turnbuckle and dropping an “EC2” on the canvas.

“You wanna take that next step? You wanna get to the show everybody loves? ‘Oh we have great matches, compelling characters, great storylines, NXT, NXT, yay! You know what makes a star? Surviving. Try surviving obstacle courses. Getting slimmed. Wheelbarrow races. Six-minute TV matches where you can’t do any of your cool moves. And Redemption Points! Here we stand, a true success story of independence. Independence is not [ ] to the machine; independence is succeeding despite it.”

Carter was of course referring to his time in WWE, where he actual competed in the original NXT concept when the program was a reality competition. Drew Gulak then rushes the ring and is met with the same fate as the others before him.

“Nice boots Gulak. Do you know what this is? This is a microphone. This is how you create box office. This is how you put asses in seats. No flips and false-finishes. This man (points to Galloway) was ‘chosen’ as a reason. If I can be humble for a second – I have been endorsed by the best, only to be destroyed by the worst. So I’m gonna shoot with you real fast, buddy. By endorsed I mean Hall of Famers, world champions, that kind of thing. But when it comes to being destroyed, I can only think of one obese sociopath who’s best known for being [ ]. So hey Bill, guess what – I won!”

At this point, TJ Perkins rushes the ring and is also taken out by both men, finished off with a powerbomb by Galloway. Carter continues…

“I’m not finished! We are the last bastion of the independents here. We are two men – we weren’t failed football projects. We weren’t models. We weren’t body builders pulled out of a gym. We sure as hell weren’t anyone’s kids! We are two men who love this industry, who breath this industry. To us this isn’t a game – this is our god damn lives.”

It was at this point that Ethan Page rushed the ring with a steel chair and the Evolve talent was all able to run off the invading TNA force. The two sides had a staredown and traded promos for a bit before EC3 and Galloway ended up leaving.

This entire angle was to set up a tag team match featuring Gargano and TJP taking on EC3 and Galloway at the next Evolve show on June 10th.

source: wrestlezone.com

Former TNA & CZW Champions Advance to WWE Cruiserweight Classic at Evolve 61

You can officially add TJ Perkins and Drew Gulak to the WWE Cruiserweight Classic, as both men won their qualifying round matches at tonight’s Evolve 61 IPPV event.

TJ Perkins is 31-years-old and a long-time TNA talent, wrestling under the names Suicide and Manik, and is a former X-Division Champion.

Drew Gulak is a 29-year-old long-time Combat Zone Wrestling talent, winning the promotions World Heavyweight Championship, tag team championship, and television title.

WWE Cruiserweight Classic Update

The WWE Global Cruiserweight Series has been re-named to The Cruiserweight Classic. Apparently other changes are being discussed for the 32-man tournament that kicks off this summer. F4Wonline.com reports that there may be changes to come for the tapings schedule. The tapings have been announced for the week of June 20th at Full Sail University, apparently over a few days. This past week that there was talk of having some of the matches take place with WWE NXT TV matches.

Chyna Busted Drunk and Sleeping Outside ... Months Before Death

Chyna was seriously struggling before she died -- so much so, police found her wasted and passed out on the ground outside her apartment building ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement tells us they got a call in November for a woman lying unconscious at 7 AM in Redondo Beach, CA -- and when they arrived, officers found Chyna. We're told she was slurring her speech, had bloodshot eyes and reeked of booze.

Cops say Chyna admitted drinking wine the night before and said she decided to sleep outside because she was struggling with her keys. She was also carrying nearly $20k in cash she says she made at an autograph session.

Paramedics on scene determined she was too drunk to take care of herself, and cops booked her for public intoxication.

Chyna was found dead on April 20. Her cause of death is still under investigation.

source: tmz.com

WWE Fans Might Soon Be Able to Watch Raw and Smackdown Live Online

NBCUniversal in Talks to Join Hulu Channel Bundle

NBCUniversal is in talks with Hulu to join the streaming service’s planned over-the-top offering of cable and broadcast channels, Variety has learned.

The two companies are in the early stages of active negotiations, according to a person familiar with the situation. The source added that NBCUniversal was recently approached by Hulu about the prospect of partnering on the offering.

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday evening that Hulu was in talks with Fox and Disney about creating a low-cost streaming package of cable and broadcast networks that would circumvent traditional cable distribution. The package would include key networks such as ESPN, Disney Channel, ABC, Fox, FX and Fox Sports 1. According to the Journal, Hulu is eyeing a $40 price for the package.

Sony Corp.’s PlayStation Vue and Dish Network’s Sling TV have already established a market for so-called “skinny bundles” that stream television channels to consumers who do not wish to pay for a complete cable package.

Disney, Fox and NBCUniversal are ownership partners in Hulu, though NBCUniversal is a silent partner under federal conditions of parent company Comcast’s agreement to acquire NBCUniversal in 2011.

In addition to the NBC broadcast network, NBCUniversal’s cable channels include Bravo, E!, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Syfy and USA.

Hulu will make its annual presentation to advertisers on Wednesday in New York. Representatives for Hulu and NBCUniversal declined to comment.

source: variety.com

Rumor Mill - Bret Hart Describes Tension Backstage At WWE Payback Between Shane, Stephanie & Triple H

With Shane I sensed he was really relaxed but I also sensed a distance there. In the backstage area I never saw Stephanie, Triple H and Shane all in the same room. I’m just reading between the lines without knowing anything. I could see that there was real tension there. They were all really friendly to me when they saw me but you never saw anybody at the same time. I noticed when I saw Shane after Natalya’s match that he didn’t go into what they call the Gorilla Position. He wasn’t in there. He wouldn’t go in there. He kind of stayed out and I realized then that it was just Stephanie and Triple H that were in there. I don’t know, maybe there’s real tensions there. I’ve said it before and I don’t know anymore than what I’ve said in recent broadcasts. I do sense there is some real tension in the family. I got the impression from watching it on TV, just like the fans do, that Vince is loving it. He loves the tension between them and this little storyline that they have seems like it’s true and based on a real situation. A lot of times that’s what Vince likes to play on. He likes to play on real sensitive issues. Even like what he did to me in Phoenix a few years ago. It was all based on, “You screwed me,” and, “Bret screwed Bret,” and all these things that were so sensitive a few years before. He wanted to milk that as much as he could and get as much mileage out of it as possible. I sensed a lot of that in Chicago. There’s a lot of real tension in the air and Stephanie, Triple H and Shane aren’t really comfortable with the attention but Vince is loving it. He’s just throwing more gas on the fire.